The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has begun a three-month pilot with the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership (NIRSP) using three hand-held TruCAM II devices to step up enforcement against speeding, including on rural routes where safety camera vans cannot operate.

The TruCAM II units combine a speed-detecting laser with video recording, allowing officers to capture the evidence needed to prosecute speeding drivers without stopping vehicles. High-definition footage will be processed and, where appropriate, notices issued by post, mirroring the process used by NIRSP safety camera vans.

"These cameras, for use initially by our Road Policing Unit officers, can travel anywhere, at any time, on any road across Northern Ireland and can operate during hours of darkness," said Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, Head of the Service's Road Policing Unit.

"We often hear police aren't doing enough to tackle speeding on our roads, especially on rural roads. Having these cameras means we reach those roads where it isn't suitable to deploy NIRSP safety camera vans, where there's a proven history of collisions and where there is community concern," said Chief Inspector Simpson.

The pilot is intended to complement existing NIRSP safety camera vans and average speed camera systems, extending enforcement to locations that are unsuitable for larger vehicles and addressing community concerns about speeding on smaller roads. According to Chief Inspector Simpson, the devices will streamline enforcement by removing the need to stop vehicles at the roadside and by enabling officers to respond quickly to local priorities and emerging collision trends across the network.

"They can detect speeding vehicles from distances up to one kilometre and, for anyone speeding, by the time they've seen it, it will be too late. They will have been detected and receive a notification in the post, the same as if detected by NIRSP safety camera vans," she said.

The initiative forms part of the PSNI's Operation Lifesaver activity to change driver behaviour and improve road safety, with a focus on tackling excessive speed.

"As well as NIRSP safety camera vans and average speed cameras, this state-of-the-art technology should serve as a deterrent to anyone who thinks speeding is acceptable and they can get away with it, especially off the main roads," Chief Inspector Simpson added.

"Since the start of 2026, as of 6th July, 36 people have died in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. These are devastating losses. Lives changed in an instant and forever," said Chief Inspector Simpson.

"The number of people dying on our roads is unacceptably high. Reducing serious and fatal collisions is a priority for The Police Service. Tackling excessive speed, one of the fatal five, is key to this," she said.

"Our message to everyone on our roads is remember the 'fatal five' - slow down; don't be careless; always wear your seat belt; don't drink or take drugs and drive and never use your mobile phone while driving," Chief Inspector Simpson said.

"Together, by making safer choices, we can help keep our roads safer for everyone and reduce serious and fatal road collisions on our roads."